What to buy... 84 200es for $400 or 84 200m for $350 with extra parts?

[2strokedemon]

My ride is an 86 trx250r, but I'm looking into two atc's and I'm buying one of them today for my wife to learn to ride and was wondering what is the better buy... The 200m with its chain drive and lighter chassis, along with custom rear rack, spare rack & fenders, and tire for $350.... Or the 200es bigred at $400. Neither has a batt currently but the owner of the es says that the m will be breaking chains while the shaft driven es will have no problem in the mud? What's yours input on this? Thanks

[2strokedemon]

Also, owner of the m says he rebuilt the top end and has receipts to show but says the bike smokes a little

[shortline10]

Hey neighbor good luck on the purchase .

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Personally, I would go for the ES (Big Red).

IMHO, the ES owner saying the chain will break all the time on the 200m is full of dog doody. But, as long as the rear end is good on the ES, with regular mantainence the shaft drive is virtually bulletproof. I'm not sure if the 200m has the HI-LO range sub transmission, but the ES does and I find that to be VERY handy on my '84 Big Red.

That's my $0.02.

Welcome to 3WW bud!

[kb0nly]

I would go with the 200ES... Hi/Lo and Reverse, which can be handy.

[Flossyb20]

I have a 200m...wish it was a 200es...for nothing more than the reverse. They're basically the same machine except for the shaft drive (you really won't every use the "low" feature anyway).

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I mainly use my Big Red in windy, slow, narrow trails. My BR is in low range more than hi range. Low is great for putting through a mud hole like a tractor and is alot nicer IMHO for the roughr trails. You can putt slowly along without slipping the clutch nearly as much..